Sunday, April 13, 2008

An Inconvenient Truth

You've probably seen this before, but I hadn't. It's a metaphor for the "oxymoranity" of American politics. It's all about talking the talk---which, let me make clear, needs to be done in the issue of global warming. However, I'm depressed to report I'm no longer surprised when our "leaders" are not walking the walk. And I'm no longer shocked by the ironies that are certain to pop up. So go figure (and with the disclaimer I abhor, detest and denounce Dubya):

House #1: A 20 room mansion (not including 8 bathrooms) heated by natural gas. Add on a pool (and a pool house) and a separate guest house, all heated by gas. In one month this residence consumes more energy than the average American household does in a year. The average bill for electricity and natural gas runs over $2400 per month. In natural gas alone, this property consumes more than 20 times the national average for an American home. This house is not situated in a Northern or Midwestern 'snow belt' area. It's in the South.

House #2: Designed by an architecture professor at a leading national university. This house incorporates every 'green' feature current home construction can provide. The house is 4,000 square feet (4 bedrooms) and is nestled on a high prairie in the American southwest. A central closet in the house holds geothermal heat-pumps drawing ground water through pipes sunk 300 feet into the ground. The water (usually 67 degrees F) heats the house in the winter and cools it in the summer. The system uses no fossil fuels such as oil or natural gas and it consumes one-quarter electricity required for a conventional heating/cooling system. Rainwater from the roof is collected and funneled into a 25,000 gallon underground cistern. Wastewater from showers, sinks and toilets goes into underground purifying tanks and then into the cistern. The collected water then irrigates the land surrounding the house. Surrounding flowers and shrubs native to the area enable the property to blend into the surrounding rural landscape.

~~~~~

HOUSE #1 is outside of Nashville, Tennessee; it is the abode of the environmentalist Al Gore.

HOUSE #2 is on a ranch near Crawford, Texas; it is the residence the of the President of the United States, George W. Bush.

An 'inconvenient truth. ' Who'da thunk it?

ANNOUNCEMENT: Lucy lives for your blogs and comments. You beautiful, faithful people know who you are. I feel so guilty when I don't respond to your comments but please know I would if I could. Thankfully elderdom has diminished only my body and not my curiousity and sense of humor---and especially of the ironic. Having an aging body is a drag but one hand still works and I continue to move my mouse and handwrite the occasional blog for my dear and very busy DIL Carole to type. I, like many of my elder kindred, keep interested and alert because you keep coming back to see me. I'm making a video to tell you up-close and personally but I have to get my hair and nails done first. Much love to you all.

62 Comments:

Whether you post often or not, you're on my blog reader and I'll see your posts!

This is an interesting post and although I'm no fan of W, I've always tried hard to give him credit when he deserved it. His house sounds like something we should all aspire to. What baffles is why he doesn't do more to lead the way for others in this matter.

Snopes has a little fuller explanation of the Al Gore situation and the Tree Hugger site wonders if GWB is a closet environmentalist. A question in my mind (to which I know not the answer) is: How much time has GWB really lived in the little house? If he's spent a significant portion of his adult life in that house, he gets extra credit!Cop Car

Just stopping by to see what you've been up to. I think of you often....and though I'm younger...I've got plenty of aches and pains sweetie, so I know what you're talking about. Just know that we enjoy when you post...whenever it happens. Stay well....stay wonderful...you are in my heart Lucy.... ~Joy

The Bush country home is a second, designed purely for show to look like a ranch but it's not. I have seen photos of the house, bits of it and it's very impressive, modern, lots of windows and quite appropriate for a rich man, which he is. That house in the photo was probably originally the house on the property before Bushes bought it prior to making a run for the presidency so he could call himself a cowboy.

The real deal where it came to that kind of living was Ronald Reagan. He did have a small place up in the mountains and liked to live the simple life there. But even he still had a fancy house down in the valley and why not as long as he paid for it or his friends in his case. His place though in the hills had a house that resembled that one in the second picture, very plain and simple. I didn't agree with Reagan politically but he had a lot of admirable qualities

Been stopping by occasionally to see what you might be up to. Do hope all is well with you. I'm missing your sharp wit and good humor. Perhaps you're making it out to read a few blogs, or maybe you're busy with other activities. Just want you to know I'm thinking of you.

Perhaps you're not feeling well and wish I could stop in and perk you up a bit. Or, maybe you have a case of the blahs -- I get those myself sometimes.

Just for fun when I was at a bookstore today, I read some pages in the latest Doris Day biography. Probably you know she's just one of quite a few entertainers who came from Ohio and around the Cincinnati area/Covington, Ky. She sang and danced locally, and at WLW radio. (WLW-tv was my old broadcasting connection at a sister TV station in Columbus. Actually, all the other stations, Dayton and the one in Indianapolis considered Cincy's WLW-T as our Mother station. First "T" had The Ruth Lyons Show, then the Bob Braun Show, etc.) Wonder if you remember that radio/TV station and any of those people?

Expect you know Rosemary Clooney hailed from Cincy, along with brother, Nick Clooney, a singer, too before he branched into other broadcasting jobs. He also did our talk show in Columbus for a while (had a little boy, George.) Guess Nick is most known now for being the father of his now big boy, and popular movie star, George Clooney.

How about The McGuire Sisters and at our Dayton station did you hear of their Phil Donahue Show (before he was on national TV and married Marlo Thomas?) Another Daytonite, Erma Bombeck was starting to write some funny stuff about the life of a housewife.

You surely did open my eyes as to what life growing up in Cincinnati was like for you. I am now always reminded of that and wish your experience had been different. Was having a discussion about such matters with a dear friend just this weekend.

Lucy, hope you're having pleasant Colorado weather. So. Cal. where I am is hotter than blue blazes, as the saying goes with temps going into three digit figures again this week -- the third such week in recent months. The first such week in May my house A/C went out, but will spare you the sorid details. Just stay cool and comfortable whatever you're doing. Am sending lots of Calif. hugs your way!

It's nice to see our wisdom holders taking part in the world of blogging. Sorry for reaching out to you this way but I couldn't see any other way to connect to you.

I have my own blog www.jugglingmama.com. I would love to add you to my blog roll and hope you will do the same - let me know your thoughts. I am also part of www.ShesConnected.com you should check it out and add your profile, it's a great way to promote your business and blog.

I look forward to connecting with you and continuing to read your blog.

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